Flaring tool

ABSTRACT

A tool for flaring a tube end, having a constrictible body carrying tube clamping jaws in removable association therewith and providing a tube clamping force by transmission of a constrictive force through the body and jaws to the tube to be flared. The tube clamping structure is arranged to hold the tube substantially positively against axial displacement during a flaring operation. A flaring cone threadedly mounted to a yoke portion of the body is forcibly urged into the end of the held tube.

Umted States Patent 1191 1111 3,913,364

Strybel Oct. 21, 1975 [5 FLARING TOOL 2,132,947 10/1938 Gagne 72/317 Inventor: Richard v. y Elk Grove 3,411,796 11/1968 Decker 279/46 Village Primary ExaminerLowell A. Larson [73] Assignee: Imperial-Eastman Corporation, Attorney, Agent, or FirmWegner, Stellman, McCord,

Chicago, Ill. Wiles & Wood [22] F1led: July 11, 1974 ABSTRACT [21] Appl 487435 A tool for flaring a tube end, having a constrictible body carrying tube clamping jaws in removable associ- [52] US. Cl. 72/318; 72/125; 72/316 ation therewith and p iding a tube clampin force 51 1111.0. B21D 41/02 y transmission of a constrictive force through h [58] Field of Search 72/125, 316, 317, 318; y and j to the tube to be timed h tube 279/46 41 clamping structure is arranged to hold the tube substantially positively against axial displacement during a [56] R f r Cit d flaring operation. A flaring cone threadedly mounted UNITED STATES PATENTS to a yoke portion of the body is forcibly urged into the 859,644 7/1907 Cummings 72/125 end of the held 1,018,910 2/1912 Kahle 279/41 28 Claims, 7 Drawing Figures US. Patent Oct. 21, 1975 FLARING TOOL BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention This invention relates to tube working tools and in particular to tube flaring tools.

2. Description of the Prior Art One conventional form of tube flaring tool includes a body having a yoke portion and depending legs. The distal end of the legs are inturned to support a tube holding clamp in alignment with a flaring cone carried on the end of a stem which is threaded through the yoke portion and which is rotatable by means of a handle secured to its opposite end. One example of such a tube flaring tool is shown in the George E. Franck United States letters Patent 3,027,931, owned by the assignee hereof. The clamp means for holding the tube end may be provided in the form of a pair of clamp bars which are adjustably drawn together to clamp the tube end therebetween in suitable confronting segmentally cylindrical recesses. An example of such a clamp bar means is shown in the Robert D. McIntosh United States letters Patent 2,242,831. Another clamp bar of thistype is illustrated in United States letters Patent 2,314,221 of Edgar E. Kellems.

Still another flaring tool utilizing such tube clamping means is shown in United States letters Patent 3,421,354 of Richard V. Strybel et al., owned by the assignee hereof.

A somewhat different form of tube clamping means is illustrated in the George E. Franck United States letters Patent 3,073,375, wherein a pair of blocks having peripheral recesses are selectively positioned to hold different diameter tools in the flaring tool. In the flaring tool of the George E. Franck United States letters Patent 2,774,408, the tube is clamped in a pair of blocks which are cubical in shape and which have the different surfaces thereof provided with the plurality of hemicyclindrical grooves for accommodating different diameter tubes.

In United States letters Patent 2,526,110 of Robert B. Edelmann, the clamping blocks are rotatably mounted to a body portion of the clamp structure.

In the tube flaring machine of Albert E. Watts disclosed in United States letters Patent 2,532,250, twopart expanding dies are retained in support blocks carried in U-shaped brackets. A tightening screw clamps the blocks together to urge the expanding dies tightly about the tube to be flared.

In United States letters Patent 2,124,743 of John G. McMahon, a tube flaring tool is provided utilizing a plurality of different size split die members, each having the same outside diameter so as to be selectively received in an opening of the yoke of the tool for clamped association with the tube end by means of a wing bolt.

In United States letters Patent 3,044,531 of Frank R. Wilson, inserts are provided in the elongated clamping bars for accommodating the clamping means to tubin of different sizes.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION The present invention comprehends an improved flaring tool wherein the jaws are received in an annular array of clamping leg portions of a body member and means are provided for forcibly urging the clamping leg portions radially inwardly toward the axis of the tube to securely hold the tube in the flaring operation. The tool may be formed of a relatively low cost material, such as molded synthetic resin with the clamping leg portions defining relatively thin wall portions of the body member. The adjustable clamping means, in the illustrated embodiment, comprises a band encircling the annular array of clamping leg portions to radially constrict the array and thereby urge the jaws into the desired tube holding arrangement.

The clamping leg portions are arranged to removably retain each set of jaws selectively in association therewith by the resiliency of the body member.

Each set of jaws may be maintained in paired relationship by a retainer arranged to permit snap-in assembly of the jaws therewith. The retainer may comprise a loop element with the jaws slidably received within and engaging side walls of the loop for guided disposition toward and from each other. The retainer may serve as a handle for facilitated installation and removal of the jaw pair from the flaring tool body, such as in substitution of different size jaw pairs for use of the tool with different diameter tubes.

The invention comprehends an improved jaw arrangement wherein one end of the semicylindrical tube receiving recesses thereof is counterbored to prevent canting and provide improved balancing clamping forces in the operation of the tool.

The body member includes means for effectively retaining the constricting band in position thereon. In the illustrated embodiment, the band is retained on the body member by outwardly projecting pad means and distal flange means.

The band is drawn, to effect the desired constriction of the clamping portion of the body member, by means of a threaded force transmitting member threaded through one portion of the band. The force transmitting member acts through a clamping pad engaging the clamping portion of the body member to constrict the clamping portion. The force transmitting member includes a head portion received in a slot of the clamping pad for facilitated transfer of force therebetween. The slot is arranged to effectively maintain the assembly notwithstanding a loosening of the band. The loosening of the band is limited by the outward movement of the pad to a stop position, thereby providing an automatic preselected released arrangement of the clamping means.

The clamping leg portions arranged in the annular array permits the jaws to be inserted omnidirectionally relative to the axis of the tube flaring means. As the forces generated in the flaring operation in the clamping means comprise substantially only tensile forces, the clamping leg portion may comprise a relatively thin wall section.

The flaring tool of the present invention is extremely economical and simple of construction while yet providing the desirable features discussed above.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING Other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a flaring tool embodying the invention;

FIG. 2 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 2-2 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1; i

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary enlarged diametric section taken substantially along the line 4-4 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 5 is a longitudinal section taken substantially along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a transverse section taken substantially along the line 6-6 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary diametric section illustrating the mounting of the jaws in the clamping portion of the body member.

DESCRIPTION or THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT In the exemplary embodiment of the invention as disclosed in the drawing, a flaring vtool generally designated 10 is shown to comprise a body member 11 defining a yoke portion 12 and an annular clamping portion 13. Thus, as seen in FIGS. 1 and 3, the body member effectively comprises a cup-shaped member with the clamping portion 13 being provided with longitudinal slots 14 spaced circumferentially about the axis 15 thereof. Resultingly, the clamping portion effectively comprises a. plurality of segmentally cylindrical legs 16 depending from the yoke portion 12.

The body member may be formed of a suitable resilient material, such asmolded synthetic resin, whereby the clamping portion 13 may be selectively constricted by a band 17 encircling the clamping portion 13. The band may comprise a metal strap having its ends 18 secured together and provided with a female threaded element 19. A rod 20 extends through the overlapped band ends 18 and is threaded through element 19. The distal end of the rod is provided with a cylindrical head 21 received in a slot 22 of a clamping pad 23 for effecting movement of the pad 23 toward and from the axis 15, as best seen in FIG. 6.

The clamping pad may define an inner segmentally cylindrical surface 24 engaging the clamping portion 13 of the body member in opposition to the engagement of band 17, as shown in FIG. 6. Thus, as shown, the threading of rod 20 inwardly through the element 19 urges the clamping pad 23 against several of the clamping portion legs 16 and concurrently pulls the band 17 against the opposite legs 16 to effect a forceful constriction of clamping portion 13 wherein the legs are deflected radially toward the axis 15.

Reversely, a retrograde threading of rod 20 outwardly through element 19 causes a withdrawal of the clamping pad 23 from clamping portion 13 to relax the clamping portion. As shown in FIG. 6, the outward movement of clamping pad 23 may be limited by the engagement thereof with element 19 to provide a preselected retraction of the clamping means.

The distal end of rod 20 may be provided with a manual operating handle 25, as shown in FIG. 1, for providing facilitated manual constriction of the clamping means. As further shown in FIG. 1, the band 17 is effectively retained in association with body member 11 by a pair of axially spaced shoulders defined by a lug 26, and a distal outturned flange 27 on the clamping portion. The clamping pad may be retained between the flange and a second lug 28 on the clamping portion 13 against axial displacement, as further shown in FIG. 4.

The tube end T to be flared is held in the clamping portion 13 by jaws 29 comprising semiannular jaw elements 30 and 31 movably retained in apposed association by a jaw retainer 32. As shown in FIG. 5, the jaws are provided with radially opening slots 33 slidably receiving the rectilinear side portions 34 of the jaw retainer 32 for adjustable retention in the juxtaposed relationship.

Thus, a plurality ofjaw pairs 29 may be provided for use with different diameter tubes. The paired jaws are removably installed in the cylindrical space 35 defined by the annular clamping portion 13 and are releasably retained therein by locking shoulders 36 on the clamping portion legs 16 and cooperating shoulder 37 on the cylindrical periphery of the jaws. The shoulders 36 and 37 define segmentally annular shoulders and, thus, the jaw assemblies 29 may be mounted in the clamping portion 13 omnidirectionally, i.e., in any rotational position about the axis 15. As shown in FIGS. 4 and 7, the jaws are preferably beveled so as to facilitate spreading of the clamping portion legs against the resilient biasing thereof in inserting and removing the jaws from the space 35. As discussed above, during such insertion and removal, the band 17 is disposed in the relaxed arrangement to permit the necessary expansion of the clamping portion.

The installation of the jaws in the clamping portion 13 and the removal thereof from the clamping portion 13 is facilitated by use of the jaw retainer 32 as a handle as the jaw retainer projects outwardly from the lower end of the clamping portion 13, as best seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4. Further as shown in FIG. 1, the outturned flange 27 on the clamping portion 13 serves as a limit to the insertion of the jaws by the abutment therewith of the side portions 34 of the jaw retainer 32.

To suitably hold the tube end T during the flaring operation, the tube end is inserted through the cylindrical space 38 defined by the jaw pairs 30 and 31, as shown in FIG. 4. The inner surface 39 defining the space 38 may be suitably formed to provide improved tube gripping, and as shown in FIG. 4, is threaded. To effect the desired clamping of the tube end extended through the space 38, the user merely manipulates handle 25 to thread rod 20 through the element 19 thereby constricting the clamping portion 13 as discussed above and, in turn, urging the jaw halves 30 and 31 forcibly toward each other whereby the gripping surfaces 39 firmly hold the tube end coaxially of axis 15.

Flaring of the tube end is effected by urging a flaring cone 40 coaxially into the distal end of the tube, as shown in FIG. 5. Flaring cone 40 is carried on the lower end ofa threaded stem 41 which is threaded to an internally threaded sleeve 42 secured to yoke 12 of the body 11. The upper end of the threaded stem 41 may be provided with a handle 43 to effect rotation of the stem and resultant forcible urging of the flaring cone 40 into the held tube end.

As shown in FIG. 4, the flaring cone abuts the body yoke 12 in the retracted position of the flaring cone so that insertion of the tube end T through the jaw space 38 into engagement with the cone provides an automatic preselected positioning of the tube suitable to form the desired flare upon subsequent advance of the flaring cone into the tube end, as shown in FIG. 5. As will be obvious to those skilled in the art, the jaws 29 may be provided with an upper chamfer to define a backup means for the flare where the flare is effected within the jaws rather than in the portion extending up wardly from the jaws, as shown. The clamping of tube end T by the above described constriction of the clamping portion 13 effectively positively holds the tube and coaxially with the flaring cone 40 to provide an improved accurate flare while yet'permitting the overall flaring tool to be of minimum size. To further assure accurate alignment-of the tube, prevent canting thereof, and provide a balancing of the clamping forces, the internal surface 39 of the jaws is undercut at the lower end 44, as best seen'in FIGS. 4 and 5.

The foregoing disclosure of specific embodiments is illustrative of the broad inventive concepts comprehended by the invention. I

I claim: V

1. A tool for flaring a tube end, comprising a body member having a yoke portion, and a plurality of apposed, spaced clamping portions extending resiliently from said yoke portion in an annular array to define a generally cylindrical jaw receiving space therebetween; a pair of segmentally cylindrical jaws in said space having confronting tube engaging concave surfaces defining a flaring axis; adjustable means for forcibly urging said clamping portions radially inwardly. toward said axis thereby to urge said jaws inwardly into holding relationship with a tube disposed therebetween extending coaxiallytoward said yoke portion; cooperating shoulder means on'said clamping portions and jaws for preventing axial movement of the jaws from said space when urged into said tube holding'relationship; and flaring means adjustably carried by said yoke for coaxially flaring the end ofthe held tube, the resiliency of said clamping portions being preselected to cause radial separation of said shoulder means as an incident of release of said adjustable means to permit the jaws to be inserted axially into said space and to permit said jaws and the flared tube to be withdrawn axially from said jaw receiving space upon completion of the flaring of the tube end. I v I 2. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said clamping portions are equiangularly spaced about said axis. 7

3. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein. said flaring means comprises a flaring cone, carried on a stem threaded to said yoke portion coaxially of said space.

4. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said adjustable means comprises a band extending about said array of clamping portions, and threaded means for adjustably drawing said band tightly thereabout.

5. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said flaring means comprises a flaring cone carried on a stem threaded to' said yoke portion coaxially of said space, said flaring cone being retractable to a preselected retracted position spaced from said jaws a distance equal to the tube length suitable to provide the desired flared portion of the flared tube end. i

6. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said flaring means comprises a flaring cone carried on a stem threaded to said yoke portion coaxially of said space, and said tube engaging surfaces of said jaws define an enlarged end portion remote from said yoke.

7. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said adjustable means engages said clamping portions substantially fully about the circumferential extent of said array.

8. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said jaws define segmentally cylindrical outer surfaces permitting omnidirectional disposition of said jaws in said space.

9. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said clamping portions comprise thin wall elements.

10.The'flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said clamping portions comprise thin wall elements formed integrally with said yoke portion.

1 1. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said clamping portions comprise thin wall elements having an outturned distal flange. v

12. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said shoulder means comprises cooperating segmentally annular shoulder meanson said jaws and clamping portions for releasably axially locking said jaws and said clamping portions omnidirectionally about said axis.

13. A tool for flaring a tube end, comprising: a body member having a yoke portion, and a plurality of apposed, spaced clamping portions extending resiliently from said yoke portion in an annular array to define a generally cylindrical jaw receiving space therebetween; a pair of segmentally cylindrical jaws in said space having confronting tube engaging concave surfaces defining a flaring axis; a retainer member defining a pair of opposed slide portions slidably carrying said jaws for adjustable spacing of said tube engaging surfaces, said retainer member maintaining said jaws in juxtaposed relationship for facilitated installation of said jaws in said jaw receiving space; adjustable means for forcibly urging said clamping portions radially inwardly toward said axis thereby to urge said jaws inwardly into holding relationship with a tube disposed therebetween extending coaxially toward said yoke portion; cooperating shoulder means on said clamping portions and jaws for preventing axial movement of the jaws from said space when urged into said tube holding relationship; and flaring means adjustably carried by said yoke for coax-ially flaring the end of the held tube, the resiliency of said clamping portions being preselected to cause radial separation of said shoulder means as an incident of release of said adjustable means to permit the jaws to be inserted axially into said space and to permit said jaws and the flared tube to be withdrawn axially from said jaw receiving space upon completion of the flaring of the tube end.

14. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said retainer member is resilient and said jaws are removably mounted on said retainer member.

15. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said retainer member is formed of a resilient synthetic resin.

16. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said retainer member comprises a loop member having parallel rectilinear sides defining means for guiding said jaws rectilinearly in providing said variable spacing of the tube engaging surfaces.

' 17. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said jaws define oppositely outwardly opening rectilinear slots, and said retainer member defines spaced, parallel, rectilinear guides received in said slots for guiding said jaws rectilinearly in providing said variable spacing of the tube engaging surfaces.

18. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said flaring means comprises a flaring cone carried on a stem threaded to said yoke portion coaxially of said space, and said tube engaging surfaces of said jaws define sequentially cylindrical surfaces having an enlarged end portion remote from said yoke.

19. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said retainer member defines a portion projecting substantially outwardly from said body for facilitating manual removal of said jaws from said space when desired.

20. A tool for flaring a tube end, comprising: a body member having a yoke portion, and a plurality of apposed, spaced clamping portions extending resiliently from said yoke portion in an annular array to define a generally cylindrical jaw receiving space therebetween; a pair of segmentally cylindrical jaws in said space having confronting tube engaging concave surfaces defining a flaring axis; adjustable means for forcibly urging said clamping portions radially inwardly toward said axis thereby to urge said jaws inwardly into holding relationship with a tube disposed therebetween extending coaxially toward said yoke portion, said adjustable means including a band and means for drawing said band tightly about said array of body member clamping portions, said body defining a pair of spaced shoulders retaining said band against displacement parallel to said axis; cooperating shoulder means on said clamping portions and jaws for preventing axial movement of the jaws from said space when urged into said tube holding relationship; and flaring means adjustably carried by said yoke for coaxially flaring the end of the held tube, the resiliency of said clamping portions being preselected to cause radial separation of said shoulder means as an incident of release of said adjustable means to permit the jaws to be inserted axially into said space and to permit said jaws and the flared tube to be withdrawn axially from said jaw receiving space upon completion of the flaring of the tube end.

i 21. The flaring tool of claim 20 wherein one of said shoulders is defined by a lug on one of said clamping portions adjacent said yoke portion.

22. The flaring tool of claim 20 wherein one of said shoulders is defined by an outturned flange on the distal end of said clamping portions.

23. A tool for flaring a tube end, comprising: a body member having a yoke portion, and a plurality of apposed, spaced clamping portions extending resiliently from said yoke portion in an annular array to define a generally cylindrical jaw receiving space therebetween; a pair of segmentally cylindrical jaws in said space having confronting tube engaging concave surfaces defining a flaring axis; adjustable means for forcibly urging said clamping portions radially inwardly toward said axis thereby to urge said jaws inwardly into holding relationship with a tube disposed therebetween extending coaxially toward said yoke portion, said adjustable means including a band extending about said array of body member clamping portions, and means for adjusta'bly drawing said band tightly thereagainst including a pressure-applying portion engaging at least one of said body member clamping portions, a threaded portion threadedly connected to said band and adjustably forcibly urging said pressure-applying portion against said body member clamping portions and concurrently drawing said band toward said pressure-applying portion to forcibly constrict said array; cooperating shoulder means on said clamping portions and jaws for preventing axial movement of the jaws from said space when urged into said tube holding relationship; and flaring means adjustably carried by said yoke for coaxi ally flaring the end of the held tube, the resiliency of said clamping portions being preselected to cause radial separation of said shoulder means as an incident of release of said adjustable means to permit the jaws to be inserted axially into said space and to permit said jaws and the flared tube to be withdrawn axially from said jaw receiving space upon completion of the flaring of the tube end.

24. The flaring tool of claim 23 wherein said pressure-applying portion comprises a pad having an inner surface engaging said clamping portion, and an outer slot opening parallel to said axis, and said threaded portion includes a male threaded member having a head rotatably received in said slot for moving said pad radially of said axis as an incident of threaded rotation of said threaded member.

25. The flaring tool of claim 23 wherein said pressure-applying portion comprises a pad having an inner surface engaging said clamping portion, and an outer slot opening parallel to said axis and having a closed end, and said threaded portion includes a male threaded member having a head rotatably received in said slot for moving said pad radially of said axis as an incident of threaded rotation of said threaded member, said slot closed end preventing movement of said head outwardly from the slot therethrough.

26. The flaring tool of claim 23 wherein said pressure-applying portion comprises a pad having an inner surface engaging said clamping portion, and an outer slot opening parallel to said axis, said threaded portion includes a male threaded member having a head rotatably received in said slot for moving said pad radially of said axis as an incident of threaded rotation of said threaded member, and said body member includes spaced shoulders retaining said pad against displacement parallel to said axis.

27. The flaring tool of claim 23 wherein said pressure-applying portion comprises a pad having an inner surface complementary to the outer surface of said body member clamping portions to have facial engagement therewith.

28. The flaring tool of claim 23 including means for limiting the movement of said pressure-applying portion away from said body member clamping portions to define a preselected retracted arrangement of said adjustable means permitting removal of said jaws from said space. 

1. A tool for flaring a tube end, comprising: a body member having a yoke portion, and a plurality of apposed, spaced clamping portions extending resiliently from said yoke portion in an annular array to define a generally cylindrical jaw receiving space therebetween; a pair of segmentally cylindrical jaws in said space having confronting tube engaging concave surfaces defining a flaring axis; adjustable means for forcibly urging said clamping portions radially inwardly toward said axis thereby to urge said jaws inwardly into holding relationship with a tube disposed therebetween extending coaxially toward said yoke portion; cooperating shoulder means on said clamping portions and jaws for preventing axial movement of the jaws from said space when urged into said tube holding relationship; and flaring means adjustably carried by said yoke for coaxially flaring the end of the held tube, the resiliency of said clamping portions being preselected to cause radial separation of said shoulder means as an inCident of release of said adjustable means to permit the jaws to be inserted axially into said space and to permit said jaws and the flared tube to be withdrawn axially from said jaw receiving space upon completion of the flaring of the tube end.
 2. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said clamping portions are equiangularly spaced about said axis.
 3. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said flaring means comprises a flaring cone carried on a stem threaded to said yoke portion coaxially of said space.
 4. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said adjustable means comprises a band extending about said array of clamping portions, and threaded means for adjustably drawing said band tightly thereabout.
 5. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said flaring means comprises a flaring cone carried on a stem threaded to said yoke portion coaxially of said space, said flaring cone being retractable to a preselected retracted position spaced from said jaws a distance equal to the tube length suitable to provide the desired flared portion of the flared tube end.
 6. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said flaring means comprises a flaring cone carried on a stem threaded to said yoke portion coaxially of said space, and said tube engaging surfaces of said jaws define an enlarged end portion remote from said yoke.
 7. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said adjustable means engages said clamping portions substantially fully about the circumferential extent of said array.
 8. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said jaws define segmentally cylindrical outer surfaces permitting omnidirectional disposition of said jaws in said space.
 9. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said clamping portions comprise thin wall elements.
 10. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said clamping portions comprise thin wall elements formed integrally with said yoke portion.
 11. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said clamping portions comprise thin wall elements having an outturned distal flange.
 12. The flaring tool of claim 1 wherein said shoulder means comprises cooperating segmentally annular shoulder means on said jaws and clamping portions for releasably axially locking said jaws and said clamping portions omnidirectionally about said axis.
 13. A tool for flaring a tube end, comprising: a body member having a yoke portion, and a plurality of apposed, spaced clamping portions extending resiliently from said yoke portion in an annular array to define a generally cylindrical jaw receiving space therebetween; a pair of segmentally cylindrical jaws in said space having confronting tube engaging concave surfaces defining a flaring axis; a retainer member defining a pair of opposed slide portions slidably carrying said jaws for adjustable spacing of said tube engaging surfaces, said retainer member maintaining said jaws in juxtaposed relationship for facilitated installation of said jaws in said jaw receiving space; adjustable means for forcibly urging said clamping portions radially inwardly toward said axis thereby to urge said jaws inwardly into holding relationship with a tube disposed therebetween extending coaxially toward said yoke portion; cooperating shoulder means on said clamping portions and jaws for preventing axial movement of the jaws from said space when urged into said tube holding relationship; and flaring means adjustably carried by said yoke for coaxially flaring the end of the held tube, the resiliency of said clamping portions being preselected to cause radial separation of said shoulder means as an incident of release of said adjustable means to permit the jaws to be inserted axially into said space and to permit said jaws and the flared tube to be withdrawn axially from said jaw receiving space upon completion of the flaring of the tube end.
 14. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said retainer member is resilient and said jaws are removably mounted on said retainer member.
 15. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said retainer meMber is formed of a resilient synthetic resin.
 16. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said retainer member comprises a loop member having parallel rectilinear sides defining means for guiding said jaws rectilinearly in providing said variable spacing of the tube engaging surfaces.
 17. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said jaws define oppositely outwardly opening rectilinear slots, and said retainer member defines spaced, parallel, rectilinear guides received in said slots for guiding said jaws rectilinearly in providing said variable spacing of the tube engaging surfaces.
 18. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said flaring means comprises a flaring cone carried on a stem threaded to said yoke portion coaxially of said space, and said tube engaging surfaces of said jaws define sequentially cylindrical surfaces having an enlarged end portion remote from said yoke.
 19. The flaring tool of claim 13 wherein said retainer member defines a portion projecting substantially outwardly from said body for facilitating manual removal of said jaws from said space when desired.
 20. A tool for flaring a tube end, comprising: a body member having a yoke portion, and a plurality of apposed, spaced clamping portions extending resiliently from said yoke portion in an annular array to define a generally cylindrical jaw receiving space therebetween; a pair of segmentally cylindrical jaws in said space having confronting tube engaging concave surfaces defining a flaring axis; adjustable means for forcibly urging said clamping portions radially inwardly toward said axis thereby to urge said jaws inwardly into holding relationship with a tube disposed therebetween extending coaxially toward said yoke portion, said adjustable means including a band and means for drawing said band tightly about said array of body member clamping portions, said body defining a pair of spaced shoulders retaining said band against displacement parallel to said axis; cooperating shoulder means on said clamping portions and jaws for preventing axial movement of the jaws from said space when urged into said tube holding relationship; and flaring means adjustably carried by said yoke for coaxially flaring the end of the held tube, the resiliency of said clamping portions being preselected to cause radial separation of said shoulder means as an incident of release of said adjustable means to permit the jaws to be inserted axially into said space and to permit said jaws and the flared tube to be withdrawn axially from said jaw receiving space upon completion of the flaring of the tube end.
 21. The flaring tool of claim 20 wherein one of said shoulders is defined by a lug on one of said clamping portions adjacent said yoke portion.
 22. The flaring tool of claim 20 wherein one of said shoulders is defined by an outturned flange on the distal end of said clamping portions.
 23. A tool for flaring a tube end, comprising: a body member having a yoke portion, and a plurality of apposed, spaced clamping portions extending resiliently from said yoke portion in an annular array to define a generally cylindrical jaw receiving space therebetween; a pair of segmentally cylindrical jaws in said space having confronting tube engaging concave surfaces defining a flaring axis; adjustable means for forcibly urging said clamping portions radially inwardly toward said axis thereby to urge said jaws inwardly into holding relationship with a tube disposed therebetween extending coaxially toward said yoke portion, said adjustable means including a band extending about said array of body member clamping portions, and means for adjustably drawing said band tightly thereagainst including a pressure-applying portion engaging at least one of said body member clamping portions, a threaded portion threadedly connected to said band and adjustably forcibly urging said pressure-applying portion against said body member clamping portions and concurrently drawing said band toward said pressure-applying portion to forcibly constrict said array; cooperating shoulder means on said clamping portions and jaws for preventing axial movement of the jaws from said space when urged into said tube holding relationship; and flaring means adjustably carried by said yoke for coaxially flaring the end of the held tube, the resiliency of said clamping portions being preselected to cause radial separation of said shoulder means as an incident of release of said adjustable means to permit the jaws to be inserted axially into said space and to permit said jaws and the flared tube to be withdrawn axially from said jaw receiving space upon completion of the flaring of the tube end.
 24. The flaring tool of claim 23 wherein said pressure-applying portion comprises a pad having an inner surface engaging said clamping portion, and an outer slot opening parallel to said axis, and said threaded portion includes a male threaded member having a head rotatably received in said slot for moving said pad radially of said axis as an incident of threaded rotation of said threaded member.
 25. The flaring tool of claim 23 wherein said pressure-applying portion comprises a pad having an inner surface engaging said clamping portion, and an outer slot opening parallel to said axis and having a closed end, and said threaded portion includes a male threaded member having a head rotatably received in said slot for moving said pad radially of said axis as an incident of threaded rotation of said threaded member, said slot closed end preventing movement of said head outwardly from the slot therethrough.
 26. The flaring tool of claim 23 wherein said pressure-applying portion comprises a pad having an inner surface engaging said clamping portion, and an outer slot opening parallel to said axis, said threaded portion includes a male threaded member having a head rotatably received in said slot for moving said pad radially of said axis as an incident of threaded rotation of said threaded member, and said body member includes spaced shoulders retaining said pad against displacement parallel to said axis.
 27. The flaring tool of claim 23 wherein said pressure-applying portion comprises a pad having an inner surface complementary to the outer surface of said body member clamping portions to have facial engagement therewith.
 28. The flaring tool of claim 23 including means for limiting the movement of said pressure-applying portion away from said body member clamping portions to define a preselected retracted arrangement of said adjustable means permitting removal of said jaws from said space. 